Long story short-bought my first house-wallpapered top to bottom with that textured wood chip stuff. Budgeted for some plaster work and ceiling etc but I would like some opinions as this is my first proper involvement on this kind of stuff.

What I've done is stripped the wallpaper completely-all the walls and ceilings, this has inevitably revealed some poorly plasterwork!

1st question.
I have started with a 3" bolster to remove any hollow/loose sounding plaster on the theory that there's no point removing good plaster.
Is this the best plan of attack and then get a plasterer in to finish the job or am I better off boarding everywhere and skimming?

2ndly
A couple of the ceilings are no longer flat, I'm thinking of pulling them down (not all lath and plaster!) and just boarding out from scratch, some ceilings seem flat but have been patched in the past or have cracked so would it be ok to find the joists and just screw new board on top of the existing ceiling?

I want to do the job properly whilst we're in a position to still live elsewhere until the work is done (thanks mum ) but equally this isn't a money-no-object project as it really is!

Apologies if these are daft questions but any help it thoughts are massively appreciated

Yes definitely if you're not happy with them. Rip out the old, place celotex insulation between the joists if you want to improve the warmth then cut your plasterboards to size hold them up with a friend then screw them in place. Really easy mate.

Be warned a LOT of nasty black dust and crap will come down with the old ceiling. Other than that it's a really easy job if you have a helper (full size boards are tricky to balance on your head and quite heavy)

Be warned a LOT of nasty black dust and crap will come down with the old ceiling. Other than that it's a really easy job if you have a helper (full size boards are tricky to balance on your head and quite heavy)

Go & hire a plasterboard lift, if you have a few rooms to do.
A lot easier than lifting sheets with two of you.

Definitely pull down all dodgy ceilings & as mentioned celotex insulation between the joists, save heat & cuts down the noise from above.
As already mentioned the dust created is amazing, horrible black dust gets everywhere, so block off doorways with plastic sheet.

Also wear a hard hat, a mate some years ago ended up with stitches in his head, got hit by a brick left between the joists, when we pulled the ceiling down.

The house I'm slowly renovating has artex on nearly every ceiling ( bellway refurbed 1993 - shell from 1930's ).

Current thinking ( not yet tested ) is its asbestos free so was planning on knocking off the high spots and skimming over. The ceilings are in good condition but i'm now thinking would it be worth ripping them all down to remove the artex fully ?

Current thinking ( not yet tested ) is its asbestos free so was planning on knocking off the high spots and skimming over. The ceilings are in good condition but i'm now thinking would it be worth ripping them all down to remove the artex fully ?

Artex, hate it, wouldn't even consider skimming it, skimmed a artex ceiling here, six months later some of the artex came away from the plaster board, was a waste of time skimming it.

Advice from someone who had a load of artexing skimmed over - reboard the ceiling then get it skimmed.

Yes its a PITA to board it, but its cheap and you will be glad once its done, and will have a very solid new ceiling. Its also very easy to bosh a load of cabling in for downlights with the whole thing down, too.

I would personally always use 9mm for ceilings mind, more than strong enough, easier and lighter to work with, and cheaper.

I was just gonna use 12.5mm 2400x1200 for all of my boarding needs on the basis that that I'll need them delivering either way and a pallet full must be cheaper than x amount of one size and y if another.

I was just gonna use 12.5mm 2400x1200 for all of my boarding needs on the basis that that I'll need them delivering either way and a pallet full must be cheaper than x amount of one size and y if another.

Square edge for everything that is being skimmed is it?

Some builder merchants offer cash accounts,(pay as you go account) you don't have to be trade, I have one, presently getting a 30% discount rate with them,other ones giving less, well worth having if your doing a lot of renovation work.